Ten Best Moments in Kirk Ferentz Era:
Posted 04-18-2010 at 08:20 AM by tony0051
I put together a list of the moments that I will remember for years to come simply based on the value that I put on each moment for various reasons. Most of these moments are games played on the field, but some are off field moments which I feel define what it is to be a "Hawkeye". There are several moments I left off, but there is no question that there is plenty of room for discussion on this topic.
10) The introductory press conference. I toyed with the idea that for me this was the number one moment since he came to Iowa. His original press conference was held on local TV in Iowa City. The man was right on point. His ability to come across as both friend and disciplinarian all without changing mood was evident that day. He made no comments to the press about how involved he would be at Iowa with the O-line, but he did say that it would be more physical. I think when he retires fans will look back on his teams and think physical, disciplined and tough. All things Kirk represents.
9) The opening day loss to Kansas State in 2000. Iowa lost that game 27-7. Remember, this is a KSU team that was a national champion threat. After the game, Bill Snyder made comments to the effect that Iowa was more physical than KSU. That was the signal being raised that this Iowa program was going to be the henchman of the B-10. I think of all the great players that have come through Iowa this past decade and they all have crazy work ethics. Not glorious in movement, but effective in its purpose.
8) The loss to the USC Trojans in the 2003 Orange Bowl. This is the game that showed Kirk Ferentz and his team that they needed to be humbled. That game showed a need to get more speed on the team. Hence the more urban driven recruiting that Iowa went after in 2003-2006. When did Iowa struggle? During the 2005-2007 seasons Iowa was 18-17. The recruits of that time were born from the deviation of a plan by the coaching staff.
7) This is the last loss on this list that you will see. I think the loss to Western Michigan in 2007 was the best loss of the KF era. This is the loss that kept Iowa out of a bowl game. Iowa had been terrible all year on offense and then this game happens. Senior day at Kinnick and this team falls down 18-0. The D stiffens and keeps WM from doing much on offense. But the offense is horrible. Jake looks like Keanu Reaves back in the pocket. The quicksand moving all around him. This showed that Jake was not the QB of this team, and as soon as Stanzi was ready, we would see a change at QB. Stanzi makes mistakes, but he also makes plays. Playmakers are the guys that win games for a team. The team believes in Stanzi, and he will win close to 30 games as a three year starter in a major BCS conference school. Not bad.
6) The win over Florida in the Gator Bowl. I usually don’t put much stock in Bowl wins just for the fact that the dynamic of the game is lost. Iowa treats the bowl games a little different than most. The preparation and focus in the bowl practices are something of a legend at Iowa right now. I know people all over the free message boards always have questions and hopes for what we see out of bowl practice. Who will emerge, who will change positions and who is healthy. The 37-17 win over Florida, in a game that wasn’t quite that close, showed that Iowa was legit and learned from the previous season’s Orange Bowl loss.
5) I would also list all the individual awards for Iowa players while at Iowa, but 2002 was special. Dallas Clark (Mackey), Brad Banks (Davy O’Brien) and Nate Kaeding (who cares it is a kicking award)* all won honors in the 2002 season. That signified that Iowa could put average high school players at the top of the mountain. That day was the culmination of several years of hard work and quality eye for talent. None of the three were recruited much, and all three were the best in college football in the same season at their individual position. Not a bad season at all.
4) Bob Sanders winning player of the year on defense in the NFL. I think this legitimized the Iowa player as elite in the NFL. Some have been considered a bust (Robert Gallery) and some have been considered as good as expected. Dallas Clark, Greenway, Yanda and Godfrey have been starters for their teams since they got to camp and they have been pretty solid. I think that Bob solidified the notion that Iowa could put you at the very best level in either the college or pro ranks. Sanders, was the best hitter in the B-10 this decade and continues to be dominant at the NFL level.
3) The win over Illinois in 2007. Iowa was 2-4 and really in trouble of losing this team and maybe the program. In comes Illinois with the national ranking and the great spread rushing attack. Iowa came out that day and smacked Illinois in the mouth. That game was not the prettiest thing that I have ever seen, but it was the end that I will always remember. The tears of joy that came out from Kirk that day showed what the Iowa team and program are all about. Iowa football represents heart and toughness mixed with a genuine desire to compete and be the best. This win came at a time when Iowa had lost 8 straight B-10 games. Since that game, Iowa is 24-8. I like what this team has done since that time and think the best is yet to come.
2) This is the moment that I had to rank. The MSU win from 2000 get the nod here. I went with this game over the MSU win from last season, the Michigan win in 2002, the OSU win from 2003, or the several wins versus PSU in the last 8 games. But this is the one that set Iowa toward a course of national relevance. 0-8 going into that game and facing a nationally ranked MSU team. This was the one that showed everyone invested in the Iowa program that the progress was coming. After this game, Iowa won 2 of the final 3 and would have beaten Minnesota at the Dome, but Sanders and Chris Smith were down in that game and the defense gave up touchdowns late from the deep ball at those positions. Had Sanders and Smith been healthy, I think Iowa would have won that game as well. The next season Iowa finishes 7-5 and wins the Alamo Bowl. The direction of this team has moved in different directions in ten seasons, but this game is the one that launched the winning direction for Iowa.
1) Any guesses as to the number one spot? I would think that it should be pretty obvious. The 2005 Cap One Bowl. Tate to Holloway. Whatever age I end up to live, or my physical or mental state, I will remember where I was and what I did after seeing that game come to a conclusion. To see Iowa play so well and lose the lead so late in the game, this was going to be a tough loss to handle. Then, a rarely used receiver gets loose in the secondary to catch his only career touchdown. How incredible is that? When I think of Iowa football, I know the history and the moments that defined this program and this “Hawkeye Nation”. I would be shocked to see something that tops that game for me. The only thing that would top that is a national championship. Personally, I think the 2010 season is as good as any to win the NC. On Iowa.
* The award is called the Lou Groza award.
10) The introductory press conference. I toyed with the idea that for me this was the number one moment since he came to Iowa. His original press conference was held on local TV in Iowa City. The man was right on point. His ability to come across as both friend and disciplinarian all without changing mood was evident that day. He made no comments to the press about how involved he would be at Iowa with the O-line, but he did say that it would be more physical. I think when he retires fans will look back on his teams and think physical, disciplined and tough. All things Kirk represents.
9) The opening day loss to Kansas State in 2000. Iowa lost that game 27-7. Remember, this is a KSU team that was a national champion threat. After the game, Bill Snyder made comments to the effect that Iowa was more physical than KSU. That was the signal being raised that this Iowa program was going to be the henchman of the B-10. I think of all the great players that have come through Iowa this past decade and they all have crazy work ethics. Not glorious in movement, but effective in its purpose.
8) The loss to the USC Trojans in the 2003 Orange Bowl. This is the game that showed Kirk Ferentz and his team that they needed to be humbled. That game showed a need to get more speed on the team. Hence the more urban driven recruiting that Iowa went after in 2003-2006. When did Iowa struggle? During the 2005-2007 seasons Iowa was 18-17. The recruits of that time were born from the deviation of a plan by the coaching staff.
7) This is the last loss on this list that you will see. I think the loss to Western Michigan in 2007 was the best loss of the KF era. This is the loss that kept Iowa out of a bowl game. Iowa had been terrible all year on offense and then this game happens. Senior day at Kinnick and this team falls down 18-0. The D stiffens and keeps WM from doing much on offense. But the offense is horrible. Jake looks like Keanu Reaves back in the pocket. The quicksand moving all around him. This showed that Jake was not the QB of this team, and as soon as Stanzi was ready, we would see a change at QB. Stanzi makes mistakes, but he also makes plays. Playmakers are the guys that win games for a team. The team believes in Stanzi, and he will win close to 30 games as a three year starter in a major BCS conference school. Not bad.
6) The win over Florida in the Gator Bowl. I usually don’t put much stock in Bowl wins just for the fact that the dynamic of the game is lost. Iowa treats the bowl games a little different than most. The preparation and focus in the bowl practices are something of a legend at Iowa right now. I know people all over the free message boards always have questions and hopes for what we see out of bowl practice. Who will emerge, who will change positions and who is healthy. The 37-17 win over Florida, in a game that wasn’t quite that close, showed that Iowa was legit and learned from the previous season’s Orange Bowl loss.
5) I would also list all the individual awards for Iowa players while at Iowa, but 2002 was special. Dallas Clark (Mackey), Brad Banks (Davy O’Brien) and Nate Kaeding (who cares it is a kicking award)* all won honors in the 2002 season. That signified that Iowa could put average high school players at the top of the mountain. That day was the culmination of several years of hard work and quality eye for talent. None of the three were recruited much, and all three were the best in college football in the same season at their individual position. Not a bad season at all.
4) Bob Sanders winning player of the year on defense in the NFL. I think this legitimized the Iowa player as elite in the NFL. Some have been considered a bust (Robert Gallery) and some have been considered as good as expected. Dallas Clark, Greenway, Yanda and Godfrey have been starters for their teams since they got to camp and they have been pretty solid. I think that Bob solidified the notion that Iowa could put you at the very best level in either the college or pro ranks. Sanders, was the best hitter in the B-10 this decade and continues to be dominant at the NFL level.
3) The win over Illinois in 2007. Iowa was 2-4 and really in trouble of losing this team and maybe the program. In comes Illinois with the national ranking and the great spread rushing attack. Iowa came out that day and smacked Illinois in the mouth. That game was not the prettiest thing that I have ever seen, but it was the end that I will always remember. The tears of joy that came out from Kirk that day showed what the Iowa team and program are all about. Iowa football represents heart and toughness mixed with a genuine desire to compete and be the best. This win came at a time when Iowa had lost 8 straight B-10 games. Since that game, Iowa is 24-8. I like what this team has done since that time and think the best is yet to come.
2) This is the moment that I had to rank. The MSU win from 2000 get the nod here. I went with this game over the MSU win from last season, the Michigan win in 2002, the OSU win from 2003, or the several wins versus PSU in the last 8 games. But this is the one that set Iowa toward a course of national relevance. 0-8 going into that game and facing a nationally ranked MSU team. This was the one that showed everyone invested in the Iowa program that the progress was coming. After this game, Iowa won 2 of the final 3 and would have beaten Minnesota at the Dome, but Sanders and Chris Smith were down in that game and the defense gave up touchdowns late from the deep ball at those positions. Had Sanders and Smith been healthy, I think Iowa would have won that game as well. The next season Iowa finishes 7-5 and wins the Alamo Bowl. The direction of this team has moved in different directions in ten seasons, but this game is the one that launched the winning direction for Iowa.
1) Any guesses as to the number one spot? I would think that it should be pretty obvious. The 2005 Cap One Bowl. Tate to Holloway. Whatever age I end up to live, or my physical or mental state, I will remember where I was and what I did after seeing that game come to a conclusion. To see Iowa play so well and lose the lead so late in the game, this was going to be a tough loss to handle. Then, a rarely used receiver gets loose in the secondary to catch his only career touchdown. How incredible is that? When I think of Iowa football, I know the history and the moments that defined this program and this “Hawkeye Nation”. I would be shocked to see something that tops that game for me. The only thing that would top that is a national championship. Personally, I think the 2010 season is as good as any to win the NC. On Iowa.
* The award is called the Lou Groza award.
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